The asset management industry is large and complex. Asset management companies— also known as investment management companies, or asset managers—are companies that manage money for a fee with the goal of growing it for those who invest with them. The most well-known product these companies create are investment funds. Many types of investment funds exist, including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), hedge funds, private equity, and venture capital. Their business practices and the types of regulatory requirements to which they are subject are far from standardized. Investment funds differ by, among other things, asset risk profile, investor access, portfolio company operations, and the ease of buying or selling their shares. In addition to investment funds, the asset management industry also consists of entities that connect funds to investors and other services, such as investment advice providers and custodians.

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| Website: | Visit Publisher Website |
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| Publisher: | Congressional Research Service |
| Published: | October 11, 2019 |
| License: | Public Domain |
| Tags: | asset managementcongressional research |